China-Morocco Economic and Trade Cooperation Deepens: Technological Synergy Empowers Industrial Upgrade, Investment Haven Unlocks Win-Win Prospects

Against the backdrop of profound adjustments in the global economic structure and multiple challenges facing international cooperation, China and Morocco are writing a new chapter in South-South cooperation relying on their solid strategic partnership and efficient bilateral coordination mechanisms. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of Morocco, has been actively promoting the deepening of China-Morocco economic and trade relations. In an exclusive interview, he comprehensively interpreted the achievements of bilateral cooperation, future directions, and Morocco's investment advantages, providing authoritative references for Chinese enterprises.

(The picture is provided by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco )

Technological Synergy Lays Foundation, Fruitful Cooperation Across Multiple Fields

Since the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Morocco in 2016, the bilateral relationship has evolved into a sophisticated and multi-layered composite cooperation framework. Ryad Mezzour stated: "The China-Morocco Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation has successfully transformed our simple trade exchanges into structured dialogues, identifying priority cooperation areas such as infrastructure, digital economy, technological innovation, and connectivity—fields where Morocco possesses strong complementary advantages."

A breakthrough in mutual recognition of standards has emerged as a landmark achievement in bilateral technical cooperation. Ryad Mezzour pointed out that the joint technical working groups of China and Morocco have achieved significant milestones in standardization and mutual recognition, which is crucial for the seamless flow of high-tech goods. "Our priority is clear: to build a predictable and favorable ecosystem for enterprises. Rebalancing trade flows remains a core focus. We are working closely with Chinese partners to open the vast Chinese market to premium Moroccan agricultural and industrial products, ensuring that our 'win-win' philosophy is backed by sustainable and fair trade data."

The continuous expansion of cooperation areas further demonstrates the resilience and vitality of China-Morocco economic and trade relations. Ryad Mezzour introduced that the Joint Commission has explored other promising sectors such as higher education, tourism, investment, and renewable energy, aiming to diversify cooperation fields and anchor projects within a framework of inclusive and responsible growth. The in-depth integration of technical cooperation is driving a qualitative leap in Morocco's industrial competitiveness—not merely through capital inflow, but through the deep integration of value chains. By aligning production standards and fostering technology transfers, the technical capacity of local Moroccan enterprises has been systematically enhanced, enabling them to successfully integrate into the global high-end market supply chain while creating a large number of high-skilled jobs, achieving a virtuous cycle of industrial upgrading and people's livelihood improvement.

For Chinese enterprises, Morocco provides a stable and efficient regional operation platform. Ryad Mezzour emphasized: "For China, Morocco offers a stable, competitive, and transparent regional platform. By producing in Morocco, Chinese companies benefit from our world-class infrastructure to serve not only the African continent but also the European and American markets more efficiently through our unique network of Free Trade Agreements." This two-way empowering cooperation model not only promotes Morocco's industrial modernization process but also enables China and Morocco to achieve complementary advantages and coordinated development in the global value chain.

Notably, sustainable development has become the core keynote of China-Morocco technical cooperation. Ryad Mezzour stated that bilateral cooperation integrates the development of renewable energy, the responsible management of resources, and adaptation to contemporary environmental challenges, while simultaneously stimulating Morocco’s industrial performance, creating a cooperation model with both economic and ecological value.

Strategic Layout for the Future, Emerging Fields Open New Tracks

Looking ahead to the next 3-5 years, China-Morocco technical cooperation is focusing on the forefront of global industrial transformation, targeting key emerging areas. Ryad Mezzour clearly pointed out: "Looking ahead, our priority sectors are those of the future: Electric Mobility (EVs), Green Hydrogen, and the Digital Economy. We are establishing a Joint Investment Task Force to ensure that top-level design translates into rapid, effective field-level implementation."

The preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, provides a new opportunity for China-Morocco cooperation. Ryad Mezzour stated that the demand for infrastructure construction, urban service upgrading, and transportation logistics optimization related to the World Cup will spawn numerous industrial cooperation opportunities, promoting the formation of structured partnerships between the two countries in areas such as smart infrastructure and mobility solutions, and injecting strong momentum into economic and industrial growth.

Morocco's long-term planning has always centered on the three core pillars of "innovation, performance, and sustainability." Ryad Mezzour emphasized that this cooperation approach is guided by a clear long-term vision, aiming to consolidate cooperation centered on innovation, performance, and sustainability, while fully leveraging the technological and industrial complementarities between Morocco and China. In the field of new energy vehicles, Morocco, with its abundant mineral resources and green energy endowments, is expected to become the world's most competitive production base for clean batteries; cooperation in the digital economy will help Morocco build a modern industrial service system; green hydrogen, as a key direction for future energy transformation, is emerging as an important starting point for deepening green cooperation between China and Morocco.

Investment Haven Attracts Global Capital, Geographical Advantages Fuel Development

From the perspective of international investors, Morocco's investment appeal stems from its comprehensive competitive advantages. Ryad Mezzour stated that Morocco provides a stable and highly attractive investment environment, underpinned by recognized political and economic stability. This stability is the result of a forward-looking Royal strategy that has shaped a modern industrial landscape, expanded the productive base through emerging sectors, and reinforced the Kingdom’s standing as a regional economic hub.

Morocco's unique geographical advantage makes it a strategic gateway connecting markets across three continents. "From Morocco, you can access a market of 2.3 billion consumers," Ryad Mezzour introduced. Morocco has built world-class industrial platforms—with an annual automotive production capacity of 1 million vehicles and 160 world-class factories in the aerospace sector, both of which are deeply integrated into Western supply chains. Coupled with its abundant mineral resources and green energy reserves, Morocco possesses inherent conditions to produce the world’s cleanest and most competitive batteries, providing unique advantages for investments in new energy-related industries.

A high-quality labor force further enhances Morocco's investment attractiveness. Ryad Mezzour pointed out that the confidence, predictability, and quality of Morocco’s skilled workforce provide strong support for sustainable and long-term investments. In terms of industrial supporting facilities, Morocco has formed a relatively complete industrial chain ecosystem capable of meeting the production and operation needs of various manufacturing enterprises, while the continuously optimized business environment has significantly improved investment convenience.

For Chinese enterprises considering investing or expanding their presence in Morocco, the country offers multiple unique values. Ryad Mezzour stated that Morocco has established itself as a credible and efficient regional platform, providing companies with privileged access to African and European markets. As an important participant in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Morocco has further strengthened this role, helping enterprises develop industrial and commercial synergies across the African continent and combining local production with export opportunities.

"The African dimension of the China-Morocco partnership is a key pillar of this dynamic, notably within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)," Ryad Mezzour emphasized. Morocco fully assumes its role as a strategic hub to support Chinese initiatives in Africa, leveraging world-class infrastructure, advanced logistical connectivity, and recognized expertise across multiple industrial sectors.

To provide comprehensive guarantees for Chinese enterprises, Morocco has launched the New Investment Charter. Ryad Mezzour introduced: "This transparent, incentive-driven framework offers legal protection and streamlined one-stop-shop administration. Our ambition is to build balanced and lasting cooperation based on complementarity, trust, and a shared vision for economic development, fostering a value-creating partnership at both regional and continental levels."

Strategic Mutual Trust Usheres in New Journey, Win-Win Path Leads to the Future

The continuous deepening of China-Morocco economic and trade cooperation is rooted in the highly aligned development visions and solid strategic mutual trust between the two countries. As an official dialogue mechanism, the China-Morocco Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation has always played a key role as a "compass" and "booster," ensuring that bilateral cooperation stays on course and makes steady progress through regular reviews of progress and clarification of priority directions. Against the backdrop of rising global trade protectionism and accelerated supply chain restructuring, the steady advancement of China-Morocco cooperation has injected valuable certainty into the world economy.

For Chinese enterprises, investing in Morocco means gaining a strategic fulcrum with strong market radiation capacity, industrial supporting capabilities, and policy support. They can not only penetrate the European, American, and African markets with the help of its geographical advantages but also share in the development dividends by participating in Morocco's industrial upgrading process. For Morocco, technical cooperation and investment interactions with China are important engines for its industrial modernization, green transition, and economic diversification, providing strong momentum for it to occupy a higher position in the global value chain. Looking ahead, with the implementation of cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy vehicles, green hydrogen, and digital economy, China-Morocco economic and trade relations will usher in broader development space. The two countries are joining hands to set an example for South-South cooperation and contribute practical efforts to building a community with a shared future for mankind.